Process and apparatus for achieving a uniform flow profile

Abstract

A process for achieving a uniform flow profile of very viscous liquids when flowing through tubes or reaction chambers, wherein the very viscous liquid is passed through annular spaces extending concentrically with increasing diameter over the entire cross-section of the tubes or reaction chambers and having the same depth in the direction of flow, and this procedure is repeated once or several times, the annular spaces being staggered with respect to each other as viewed in the direction of flow, and an apparatus consisting of a combination of two or more discs arranged at axial intervals within a tube transversely to the direction of flow, each disc consisting of a plurality of ring-shaped bands of increasing diameter, the bands being arranged freely of one another and concentrically at intervals on a grid supporting means to provide correspondingly concentric open spaces between the bands over the entire cross-section of the tube, with the walls of the bands running parallel to the direction of flow, and the bands of the separate discs being staggered with respect to each other as viewed in the direction of flow.

We claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for achieving a uniform flow profile of a very viscous fluid when flowing through a tube comprising in combination a flow tube, at least two discs arranged at axial intervals within said flow tube transversely to the direction of flow, each disc consisting of a plurality of ring-shaped bands of increasing diameter, the bands being arranged freely of one another and concentrically at intervals on a grid supporting means of said tube to provide correspondingly concentric open spaces therebetween over the entire cross-section of the tube, with the walls of the bands running parallel to the direction of flow, and the bands of the separate discs being staggered with respect to each other as viewed in the direction of flow and being provided with wall cut-outs which project into the annular spaces between the individual ring-shaped bands and are arranged with a three-dimensional twist to the left or right of and parallel to the direction of flow. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall cut-outs alternate in the sense of a left-hand and a right-hand twist from band to adjacent band and from disc to adjacent disc. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall cut-outs project inwardly and outwardly alternately from disc to adjacent disc. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall cut-outs also act as spacers between the individual ring-shaped bands of each disc.